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Bruce Poliquin Concedes 2nd District Race To Jared Golden

Robert F. Bukaty
/
Maine Public
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, speaks to reporters during a campaign stop Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, in Old Town, Maine.

Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin announced that he’s ending his legal challenge against Maine’s ranked-choice voting law and effectively conceded to election winner Jared Golden.

Poliquin posted his decision on Twitter on Christmas Eve, ending what legal experts had described as a futile effort to retain his seat.

Poliquin lost the election after Golden pulled ahead during the nation’s first ranked-choice runoff to decide a congressional race. He claimed in a lawsuit that the voting method violates the U.S. Constitution, but arguments by his attorneys were rejected by a federal judge.

Poliquin challenged the judge’s ruling to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but his announcement Monday signaled that he’s ending the effort.

Poliquin has also abandoned a recount of the race after incurring nearly $15,000 for its cost. Golden will be sworn in Jan. 3.

Originally published Dec. 24 at 7:19 p.m. ET.

Journalist Steve Mistler is Maine Public’s chief politics and government correspondent. He is based at the State House.